Charity condemns harm of benefit change

Benefit changes are harming people with a learning disability by making their conditions worse, says a charity.

Mencap says when people move from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) they feel confused and worried about money. The benefit changes were making their condition worse.

“Very stressful”: Ismail Kaji, who has a learning disability, found the one-month deadline for completing the PIP application form difficult

PIP is the new benefit that the UK government is gradually rolling out to replace DLA.

Assessors decide entitlement

When people switch from DLA to PIP assessors decide how much they are entitled to under the new benefit.

Eve Jackson is Mencap’s campaigns manager. She said the UK Government promised that PIP would help people manage the extra costs they face because of their disability.

But instead she says the switch to the new benefit simply “isn’t working”.

She said research by a coalition of up to 80 disability charities shows applying for PIP is making disabled people feel “anxious, confused and worried about money”.

Benefit changes create ‘long appeals process’

She claims many don’t get the right decision first time and face a long appeals process.

In the meantime, many miss out on financial support they need.

Jackson said the appeals make people’s conditions worse.

Ismail Kaji, who has a learning disability, moved from DLA to PIP last year. He said he found the one-month deadline for completing the PIP application form “very stressful”.

Stress that ‘might affect health’

Kaji, who works as a parliamentary support officer at Mencap, added: “This can really be difficult for people with a learning disability because it doesn’t leave them enough time to prepare, which can cause people stress that might affect their health.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions defended PIP. He said under PIP 29 per cent of claimants receive the highest rate of support, compared to only 15 per cent of DLA claimants.

The spokesperson said research shows that three in four PIP claimants (76 per cent) are satisfied with their overall experience.